Why all the Hillary hate? (54)

1 Name: ...!BsviaE72Qo : 2007-12-19 03:43 ID:FUYhWtsa

I see it everywhere in the media, and I don't see any real reasons. Now, personally, I like Obama (and most of the other candidates mote), but I'm wondering why everyone thinks Hillary is a bitch?

2 Name: Citizen : 2007-12-19 04:18 ID:7zPnLtyV

Okay, I've been waiting to say this for some time:
It's because she's a woman.

No, really, gender is in fact the very core of the issue.
And yet, it's not overt sexism on the part of (most of) her detractors, but instead it's by and large due to the way she must portray herself in order to combat gender realities and stereotypes.
There's the idea (whether valid or not) that women are 'soft' on a lot of issues. In order to be successful in politics (currently still very much a man's world), a women must put on a stiffer exterior than a man would.
This results in a polarization between people that see an authoritarian (or a woman that doesn't know her place: a 'bitch') and those that see a strong leader (or a strong and independent woman).

3 Name: Citizen : 2007-12-19 06:59 ID:Heaven

>>2

I think you're right.
Although honestly, is Hillary being any "tougher" than a male candidate would be in her place? If a man said and behaved exactly as she has been, I don't think anyone would associate him with excess rigidity. If anything he'd be considered a wuss.
I think it's all about how we perceive powerful women; a nasty double-standard.

But then of course she DID vote in support of Iraq invasion, so it's not like I'll let her off easily. Anti-Hillaryism is politically justifiable, although I doubt the popular media that lambastes her is primarily concerned with political issues.

4 Name: Citizen : 2007-12-24 07:46 ID:CtARUy67

Clinton is disliked because she is farther to the right than Obama, though she's generally been left of the third major Democrat, Edwards. Also, like Edwards and pretty much every other Democrat except Kucinich and Obama to a certain extent, she is in the pockets of special interest groups. Different groups from the ones espousing the Republican Party, certainly, but they're lobbyists all the same.

You can't consider any of these mainstream American candidates to be left at all is wrong, we're only talking relatively. The gun banning, isolationist, and affirmative action programs "progressive" Democrats espouse are downright scary.

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